Following are a
copy of a modern set of Craft Laws, commonly referred to as "JRF
Laws". Used by permission of author.

The Laws

YOUR HIGH PRIESTESS

In the Magic Circle, the words, commands, and wishes of the High
Priestess are Law. She is the earthly representative of our
gracious Goddess. She is to be obeyed and respected in all things.
She is our Lady and, above all others, a Queen in the highest sense
of the word. All female coveners will curtsy and say "Blessed Be"
when they come before Her, and all male coveners will bend their
knee and kiss Her on the right cheek and say "Blessed Be".

YOUR HIGH PRIEST

In the Magic Circle, the High Priest is the earthly representative
of the Great God. He commands the respect due a Magus, Lord
Counselor, and father.

THE LAWS THE LAWS WERE MADE FOR THE WITCHES TO ADVISE
THEM IN THEIR TROUBLES. DO NOT CHANGE THEM LIGHTLY.

1. The Witches should worship the Gods as is their due, and obey
their will. For the worship of the Gods is good for the Witches
even as the worship of the Witches is good for the Gods: For the
Gods love all their Witches.

2. As a man loves a woman more by acquiring more knowledge of her
wants and desires, so should the Witches love the Gods by the
learning (mastering) of them.

3. It is necessary that the Magic Circle, which is the Temple of
the Gods in these times, be case and purified such that it may be a
fitting place for the Gods; and the Witches should be properly
prepared and purified to enter into the presence of the Gods.

4. With love and worship in their hearts the Witches shall raise
power from their bodies (and the elements around them), and they
shall offer this power to the Gods so that the Gods may help their
Witches.

5. The High Priestess shall rule her coven as the representative of
the Goddess, and the High Priest shall support her as the
representative of the God. The High Priestess will choose any
member of the coven to be her High Priest, if he has sufficient
standing in the cover. As the God Himself kissed our Lady's feet,
gave Her the five-fold salute, and offered Her His power because of
Her youth and beauty, Her sweetness and kindness, Her wisdom and
justice, Her humility, gentleness, and generosity, and shared His
power with Her, so therefore the High Priestess should always be
aware that all power comes from Him; it is only lent, to be used
wisely and justly.

6. The greatest virtue of a High Priestess shall be recognition
that youth is necessary to the representative of the Goddess. She
will, therefore, gracefully retire in favor of a younger covener
should the coven so decide in council. The true High Priestess
should realize that gracefully surrendering the pride of place is
one of the greatest virtues, and that thereby she will return to
that pride of place in another life with even greater power and
beauty.

7. In the Old Days, when there were many Witches, we were free and
worshipped freely in the greatest temples; but in these times, we
must celebrate our sacred mysteries in secret. Therefore, none but
the Witches is to see our mysteries; no coven shall know the
location of any other coven or who its members are, except the High
Priest, the High Priestess, and the Messenger; and that there shall
be no communication among the covens, except by the Messenger of
the Gods or the Summoner. Only if it is safe may the covens meet in
some safe place for the Great Festivals; and while there, none
shall give their true names or any information about their coven or
its members. This law is made for this reason: no one can tell our
enemies what they do not themselves know.

8. It is ordained that no one shall tell any person not in the
Craft who other Witches are, or give them names, or addresses, or
in any way tell anything that can betray a Witch to their face. Nor
may anyone tell where the covendom or covenstead is, where any
meetings are held, or any other information about the coven unless
directed to do so by the coven in council.

9. If anyone breaks these laws, even under torture, may the Curse
of the God and the Goddess be upon them, so that they may not be
reborn upon the Earth (but shall live forever in the Hell of the
Christians).

10. Let each High Priest and High Priestess govern their coven with
justice and love, with the help and advice of the other and of the
elders of the coven, always heeding the advice of the Messenger of
the Gods if he should arrive. They will heed all the suggestions of
their coveners and strive to settle any differences among them.

11. It is recognized that there will always be people who will try
to make everybody agree with their ideas: these people are not
necessarily bad --they often have good ideas, and these ideas
should be discussed in council. But if they will not come to agree
with their other coveners, or if they say, "I will not work with
this High Priestess," then the elders will have them leave. It
should be suggested that they might join another coven, or if they
are of sufficient standing they may be encouraged to found their
own coven. For it is better this way, to avoid strife among the
family of Witches.

12. When using geographic boundaries, whenever anyone of Third
Degree lives more than a league from the covenstead (or are about
to), any of these may found a new coven; indeed, any Witch living
within the covenstead who wishes to form a new coven will inform
the elders of this intention, and immediately move to a new
dwelling beyond the boundaries of known covensteads. Members of any
coven may choose to join the new coven when it is formed, but they
must totally avoid their old coven if they choose this course. The
elders of the old and new covens should meet in peace and love to
determine the boundaries of the covens. Any Witch living outside of
any two covens may choose to join either coven, but never both. All
may meet for the Great Festivals if the elders agree, so long as
they meet in peace and love. Let the elders confer as to the use of
this law when it is not directly applicable. Always be aware that
the splitting of a coven breeds bad feelings; this law was made
chiefly for this reason. And may happier times come!

13. If you would keep a Book (whether it is called a Black Book,
Book of Shadows, Book of Light, or whatever), write it in your own
hand. Let your brothers and sisters in the Craft copy as they will
from your book in their hand, but never let your Book out of your
hands and never keep the writing of another. Every Witch should
keep and guard their own writings, that none may be discovered
through their Book being found in another's possession.

14. Destroy your Book whenever danger threatens, and commit as many
as possible of these Laws to memory. Destroy the writings of a
deceased Witch if they did not have time to do so themselves. If
any of their writings are found, it is clear proof against both the
writer and the holder, for our enemies firmly believe that "one may
not be a Witch alone": their family and all who are known to be
friends may be suspected as Witches. Be responsible with your
writings and you will protect all who love you.

15. If your Book is found on you, it is clear proof against you
alone unless you tell our enemies what you know. You may be taken
and tortured, but keep all thoughts of the Craft from your mind. If
the torture is too much to bear, tell them, "I cannot bear this
torture. I will confess. What do you want me to say?" If they try
to make you talk about the Craft, do not; but if they try to make
you speak of absurd things, such as flying through the air,
consorting with the Christian devil, sacrificing children, or
eating men's flesh, say, "I held an evil dream; I was beside
myself; I was crazed," or words to that effect, to obtain relief
from the torture. Not all magistrates are bad -- if there is any
semblance of an excuse, they may show mercy. If you have confessed
to anything, deny it afterwards: say that you babbled under
torture, or that you don't remember what you said. If you are
condemned, do not be afraid, for the Craft is powerful and your
escape will be aided if you stand fast. If you go steadfast to the
flames, be certain that drugs will reach you and you will feel
nothing of the pain. You will only go to death and what lies beyond
-- the ecstasy of the God and the Goddess. If you betray anything,
however, there is no hope for you in this life or that which is to
come.

16. To avoid being discovered, choose your working tools to be
ordinary items which you would have around the house. Make your
Pentacles out of wax so that you can break and melt them at once.
Do not keep a sword unless its presence would alarm no one. Have no
signs or names visible on anything: write the signs in ink or water
immediately before consecrating the tool, and wash them off
immediately after. Do not engrave anything, for this will only help
you be discovered. Keep your athame and kerfan (working knife)
among your kitchen knives, and let the colors of the hilts
determine the one from the other and from the other knives. Always
remember that we are the Hidden Children of the Goddess. Never do
anything to disgrace the Craft or Her -- never boast, never
threaten, and never say that you wish ill of anyone.

17. It is not forbidden to say, "There is Witchcraft in the land,"
for the Christians say so themselves and have made it heresy not to
believe so; but always say, "I know nothing of it here, though it
may be elsewhere." If any person speaks about the Craft outside of
the Circle, say, "Don't speak of such things -- it frightens me. It
is bad luck to talk about such things." Say this for this reason:
the Christians have their spies everywhere. These spies have been
known to talk as if they were drawn to the Craft and as if they
would want to come to our meetings, and they say such things as,
"My fathers and forefathers worshipped the Old Ones, and my mother;
I would like to worship in this way myself." To all of these, tell
them that you do not know what they are talking about, and that you
wish they would stop. But to others, say, "It's silly to talk about
Witches flying around in the air; they would have to be lighter
than feathers or thistle-down. Besides, everyone knows that Witches
are all bleary-eyed old hags; what fun could they possibly have at
their meetings, and why should I want to participate? And besides,
you know we were taught in school that there are no such things as
Witches." Always make fun of the subject, that we may worship in
peace when the persecution ends: let us all work for that happy
time. May the blessing of the God and the Goddess be upon all who
keep this law.

18. If any in the Craft holds any property, let all Witches guard
it and keep it clear and good for the use of the Craft. It is the
further responsibility of all Witches to guard Craft funds
wisely.

19. If any Witch offers a well-made item, it is proper to pay them
for it according to the value of the work; this is not taking money
for the Craft, but payment for honest work -- even the Christians
believe that "the labourer is worth his hire". Still, if any Witch
works willingly for the good of the Craft and will not accept
payment, this shall be to their greater honor.

20. It is known that a coven may be bound together by sexual ties,
and that this is often not desirable. When it is found that this is
not desirable, the coven should be made up of loving couples, and
there may also be single coveners. In such cases, it is required
that the search for new love be undertaken outside the coven except
when two single coveners find love with each other; otherwise, it
will often cause division in the coven. For while all acts of love
and pleasure are indeed the rituals of our beloved Goddess, She is
not inclined to favor acts which divide her covens and scatter Her
Witches unnecessarily.

21. If there should arise quarrels or disputes among the Witches,
the High Priestess or High Priest shall immediately convene the
elders and inquire into the problem. The elders shall hear each
side separately, and then both together. Their decision should be
just, not siding with one side until the matter is determined,
recognizing that there are people who cannot work under others, and
others who cannot make wise decisions. To those who must always be
in charge, the possible solutions for them are to void the coven
altogether, find another coven for them, or for them to found a new
coven (taking with them all who will go). To those who cannot rule
wisely, the solution is that those who cannot bear the rule will
leave the coven. No one can truly worship the Gods when personal
conflicts among the coveners are not resolved; all who cause strife
in the coven must be told, "Go away from us, for the Craft must
ever survive."

22. In the Old Days, we could use the Art against anyone who
treated the Witches badly; but in these times, we must not do so.
Our enemies have invented a burning pit of everlasting fire into
which their God throws everyone who does not worship Him, except
for those few who buy their penance from His priests (for their God
always seems to be in need of money). Even as our Gods need our aid
to make fertility for people and crops, so it is that the God of
the Christians is always needing men to find and destroy us. Their
priests tell them that any man who is helped by us will be damned
to their Hell forever, to the point that men are mad with the
terror of it. But the priests also make them believe that they may
escape this Hell if they give up Witches to be tortured, so that
these men are always thinking, "If I catch only one Witch, I will
escape the fiery pit." For this reason we have our hiding places,
and when no Witches are found, the searchers will say, "There
aren't any Witches, or at least not in this area." But as soon as
one of our oppressors dies or even catches a cold, the cry will go
up that it is "Witches' work", and the hunt will be on again. And
while they may kill ten Christians for every Witch, they will not
care, for they are countless millions while we are few indeed.

23. THEREFORE, IT IS ORDAINED that none shall use the Art in any
way to harm anyone or even wish them ill. However much they may
injure us, HARM NONE, and may the Christians forget that we
exist.

24. These laws are ordained to help us in our difficulties. No
person, no matter how large the injury or injustice they incur, may
use the Art in any way to do evil or harm anyone. But they may use
the Art, after great consultation with the elders and fellow
coveners, to keep the Christians and their tools from harming
anyone -- but only to constrain them. To this end, some day men
will say, "That man says he is a mighty persecutor of Witches, but
all we ever see him torture are old women -- we cannot see that
they have hurt anyone, and if they are all such powerful Witches,
why has he not been harmed?" They will see him as an evil person
regardless of his professed beliefs. We know that too many people
have died because someone had a grudge against them, or were
persecuted because another wanted their wealth or because they were
too poor to bribe the witch-hunters. And many have died only for
being old women -- so many that most men now seem to believe that
only old women are Witches. This is to our advantage, for it turns
many suspicious eyes away from us; but we mourn deeply for the old
women. Still, in England and Scotland, it has been hundreds of
years since a Witch "died the death"; be vigilant, for the misuse
of our power might begin the persecutions again. Never break this
law no matter how much you are tempted. Never consent to the
breaking of this law: even a High Priestess who merely consents to
the breaking of this law must be deposed immediately, for it is the
blood of all the Witches that she endangers. DO ONLY GOOD, and then
only when it is safe to do anything at all.

25. Never accept money for the use of the Art, for money always
smudges the receiver. Christians take money for the use of their
arts, and they sell potmetal charms, pardons, and potions to men so
that they may escape from their sins. Do not act like these men; as
long as you refuse to take money, you will be free from the
temptation to use the Art for evil causes. All may use the Art for
their own advantages, or for the advantage of the Craft, but you
must always be certain that no one will be harmed by its use. Let
the coven debate the use of the Art at length, and only when all
are satisfied that none will be harmed by its use will the use be
allowed. Remember that if you cannot achieve your means in one
fashion, your aim may still be reached through another -- always
harming none.

26. If anyone in the Craft needs a house or land and there is no
one willing to sell to them, you may use the Art to incline an
owner's mind to be willing to sell, provided that the spell does
not harm the owner or the property and that the full value is paid
without haggling. Never bargain or cheapen anything wile living by
the Art.

27. The most important of laws: Do nothing that will endanger
anyone in the Craft or which will bring them into conflict with the
law of the land or any of our persecutors. In this regard, it is
NEVER permissible, in any dispute involving the Craft, to invoke
any laws other than those of the Craft, nor may any tribunals be
held other than one consisting of the High Priestess, the High
Priest, and the elders.

28. The coven is to keep two books on herbalism: one of these will
list the names and uses of all herbs which are cures for ills or
are otherwise good for humans, and all may have access to this book
to learn these things. But keep a separate book with the names of
all poisonous herbs and those used in dark spells, letting only the
elders and other trusted Witches know of these secrets or even of
this book's existence.

29. Remember that the Art is the secret of the Gods and may only be
used in earnest -- never for show, or pride, or personal glory. The
Christians may taunt you saying, "You have no power: Perform some
magic for us, and then we may believe." Do not listen to them, for
the Art is holy and is to be used only in need.

30. It has always been the way of men and women that they should
seek after love, and while no one should be reproved for this, it
may be to the disadvantage of the Craft sometimes. It has happened
too many times that a High Priestess has found a new love and run
off with him, giving no word to the coven of this. A High Priestess
may resign in full coven at any time, and this resignation is
valid; but if she has not resigned, the coven shall wait for her to
return for a year and a day (for she may return sooner, having left
for love). If she has a deputy, that deputy is to act as Priestess
for as long as the High Priestess is away. If she returns within
this time, all will be as if she had never left; but if she does
not return within this time, a new High Priestess shall be elected
in full coven. Unless there is a good reason to the contrary, the
deputy, having done the work, should reap the reward and be chose
as the new High Priestess. But if another is chosen, the deputy
shall be the maiden and deputy of the new High Priestess.

31. The High Priest serves at the pleasure of the High Priestess.
If the High Priestess is gone for more than a year and a day, he
shall continue in his office while the deputy serves in her place.
However, once a new High Priestess has been chosen, the new High
Priestess will appoint her own High Priest (and it may be the
current High Priest or not). Neither the prior High Priest nor his
friends may be angry if a new High Priest is chose, for pride must
always give way to harmony in the coven.

32. The Art is sacred: it is the Art of the working of energies,
and it must always be taught inside of the Magic Circle. It has
been found that teaching the Art frequently leads to a sexual
attraction between the teacher and student -- and that this often
improves the result. If for any reason this is not desirable, it
should be avoided at the beginning by both persons firmly - and
verbally - resolving that their relations will be limited to that
of brother and sister, or parent and child. It is for the reason
that shared love often increases the result of working magic that
teaching should always be done from man-to-woman and from
woman-to-man. When a coven is made up of members of all one sex,
the masculine-to-feminine energy exchange should be adhered to
whenever possible. Teaching people about the Craft, however, may be
done whenever and wherever it is safe, so long as the teacher is
knowledgeable, the student is willing, and the information taught
is available publicly or is not a secret of the Art. No one may
charge for teaching, unless it is to cover such expenses as the
cost of the room, books or other printed materials, refreshments,
and so forth.

33. Order and discipline must be kept within the coven: the High
Priestess of the High Priest should and may punish all faults. To
this end, all in the Craft should receive their correction
willingly. With the culprit kneeling, all in the Circle should be
told of the offense, and the sentence will be pronounced.
Punishment might include the scourge or the recasting of the
Circle, followed by something silly such as several kisses. The
culprit must acknowledge the justice of the punishment by kissing
the scourge upon receiving sentence, and afterward by thanking
everyone for their loving correction.

SO MOTE IT BE!

Note to MagickNet friends and acquaintances: The above is a
combination of what I was taught and what I learned. Many different
sources, including my NeoGardnerian training, two different sets of
Celtic Craft laws, four versions found in print, and the picked
brains of several of my students, went into it. (J. Random
Folksinger)